Why the Academic Study of Religion?

1. Why the Academic Study of Religion? • It’s relevant to the Social Studies • Human Understanding • Deepen our understanding of others and ourselves – what is common and what is unique • Cultural Influence • Shape, sustain, transform cultures • Commonality instead of differences • Global Insight • Building bridges and foster positive human interaction

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3. Website Christian 33.39% (of which Roman Catholic 16.85%, Protestant 6.15%, Orthodox 3.96%, Anglican 1.26%), Muslim 22.74% Hindu 13.8% Buddhist 6.77% Sikh 0.35% Jewish 0.22% Baha'i 0.11% other religions 10.95% non-religious 9.66% atheists 2.01% (2010 est.)

5. United States Protestant 46.5% Roman Catholic 25.4% Mormon 1.7% other Christian 1.6% Judaism 1.9% Islam 1.9% Buddhist 0.7% Hinduism 0.7% other or unspecified 2.5% unaffiliated 12.1% none 4% 2015 Pew Research Center

6. JudaismJudaism:My Religion Video BBC 29:00Judaism: My Religion Video BBC 29:0022:20 – 28:27 Holidays • As of 2015, there were nearly 14.2 million Jews worldwide

7. 1. Judaism differs from nearby people • Cultural Identification and religion • cultural identification– Descended from Jews (Family descent and ethnicity – think of food, language, traditions) Ethnically Jewish – Religious Jew • Hebrews were monotheistic • rejected polytheism. • Yahweh: creator and ruler of the universe • Movements (Sects): Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox

8. 1. Judaism differs from nearby people • Hebrews were monotheistic • rejected polytheism. • Yahweh: creator and ruler of the universe • Believed in oneomniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, uncreated creator. • Omnipotent: all powerful • Omniscient: knowing everything • Omnipresent: present everywhere; same time • Believed that God had promised them a special land and relationship if they kept His law.

9. 2. Father of the Jewish people? • Abraham: 1800 BC • founder • God made a covenant (agreement) with him to keep God’s laws • a special land and relationship if they kept His law. • Covenant renewed with Moses with the 10 Commandments

10. 3. What are Jewish laws called? Purpose of the laws? • Ten Commandments • Standard of conduct: religious and ethical laws • Guides people’s relationship with God and other people

11. 4. What land was promised to the Jews? • Palestine • Ancient Canaan • Parts in present day Israel • Often conquered by other more powerful civilizations, the kingdom of Judah lasted until 70 CE. • In 70 CE the Romans destroyed the kingdoms for good after the Jewish-Roman Wars.

12. Palestine • Ancient Canaan • Parts in present day Israel

13. 5. Remaining wall of the Temple? Why is it important? • Western Wall or Wailing wall • Remaining wall of King Solomon's temple • Destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. • Place of pilgrimage – Jerusalem – Video 4000 Years

14. Temple Mount Church of the Holy Sepulchre

15. 6. What is Jewish Diaspora? • Scattering of the Jews throughout the world • Spread of culture and religion

16. Diaspora • The Jews were dispersed throughout the Roman empire, living as small communities and trying to keep their culture. • Diaspora: The dispersion of a culture throughout the world. • They began to marry into and speak the languages of the culture around them, while maintaining a separate culture. • Today there are Jews of every race speaking many languages.

17. Zionism Late 1800s: Zionism - European Jewish leaders call for the creation of a Jewish nation-state.

18. 7. What is Torah? Why is it important? • Hebrew Bible • Early history, moral and religious laws • Sacred text • Old Testament: first five books of the bible • Torah is part of Hebrew scriptures called the Tanakh

19. 8. Define prophet. Who is the most important prophet • Person who speaks or acts on behalf of God/religious teacher • Moses

20. 9. Identify & describe the basic beliefs and traditions of Judaism • One god • Live according to God’s laws • Study the Torah • Ethical world view • People should lead moral lives • Dietary laws – Kosher • Sabbath – day of rest – Saturday • Movements: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform

21. 10. What are the Jewish beliefs of the Messiah? Has the Messiah arrived? • Messiah: savior; one anointed by God • No

22. Judaism:My Religion Video BBC 29:0022:20 – 28:27 HolidaysJudaism: My Religion Video BBC 29:0022:20 – 28:27 Holidays

23. Christianity As of 2015, there were 2.2 billion Christians in the world My Life, My Religion: Christianity Video 29:00 5:10 Easter 8:36 Communion 15:27 Prayer 18:08 Bible 24:30 Christmas My Life, My Religion: Christianity BBC 5:03 Easter 8:27 Communion 15:17 Prayer 18:00 Bible 24:19 Christmas Crash Course: Christianity from Judaism to Constantine: Crash Course World History #11

24. 1. Out of what religion did Christianity grow? • Judaism • Became a separate identity • Most followed faith in the world • Many Denominations (Sects): • Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant

25. Origins • 30 CE: A Jewish sect formed around the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth • Those who followed Jesus believed that he was the Messiah. • Messiah – the deliverer or savior of the Jewish people • The Jews believed that the prophets had foretold of a person who would deliver them from foreign domination and bring back the original kingdom of Israel. • Christ is the Greek word for Messiah.

26. 2. Christian beliefs about Jesus compared to other religions? • Jesus is considered to be the Messiah and son of God, founder • Those who followed Jesus believed that he was the Messiah. • Messiah – one anointed or savior • Christ is the Greek word for Messiah. • Jesus was sent to reconcile/rebuild the relationship between humanity and God

27. 3. How is the Bible divided? Name the parts. • Old and New Testament • Before Jesus and after Jesus • Old Testament-Torah • New Testament- • Gospel: an account of the life of Jesus

28. 4. What is the purpose of the Apostles’ Creed? • Statement of Christian’s beliefs • Creed: any set of beliefs or principles

29. Crucifixion • Christians came to believe that the Christ was also God’s son. • The Romans began to refer to the followers of Jesus as Christians. • Jesus was executed by the Romans because he was seen as a threat. • His death by crucifixion became a major symbol of the Christian faith.

30. Church of the Holy Sepulchre • Via Dolorosa (Painful Way) • street within the Old City of Jerusalem, held to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion • The site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchrein Jerusalem is identified as the place both of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus – Immovable Ladder Article – site • BBC Video - link

31. 5. What is the importance of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus? • Basis for Christian beliefs about Jesus • Jesus’ followers believed that he was brought back to life by God and taken to heaven. • They believe that he will one day return. • Christians believe in the Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one god.

32. 6. Why were the Christians persecuted? • Did not show respect for Roman Gods • At first Christianity was outlawed by the Romans. • Persecution ended with Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity (313 A.D.) • Legalized the religion

33. Conversion of the Empire • Battle of the MilvianBridge (Tiber River) • Outside of Rome • In A.D. 312, the Roman Emperor Constantine I supposedly saw a vision in a dream the night before a very important battle • In his vision, he saw a symbol of Jesus, and was told that if he and his soldiers painted this symbol on their shields, they would be victorious the next day in battle

34. Conversion of the Empire • The next day, Constantine’s forces were victorious.

35. Rome and Christianity 325 CE: The Council of Nicaea was called by Constantine to unify Christianity. By the 5th Century, Christianity had become the official state religion of Rome.

36. Conversion of the Empire • The Emperor Constantine then began to promote the spread of Christianity throughout the Empire • In A.D. 325, he convened a council of bishops at Nicaea, in modern day Turkey, to come to an agreement about Church doctrine • They came up with a formal expression of Christian faith, known as The Apostle’s Creed • Christianity would become the official religion of the Roman and then Byzantine Empires

37. Missionary Activities • Unlike Judaism, Christianity produced missionaries. • Christians believed they were called upon by God to convert the gentiles, or non-Jews, to their faith. • This caused the diffusion of Christianity around the world.

39. The Great Schism • 1054 CE: The Great Schism occurred • The split the Christian church between Catholicism and Orthodox faiths.

40. 7. Why did Christianity appeal to people? Reasons for the spread of Christianity. • Offered hope for all people • Salvation and eternal life • Salvation for good choices-moral choices • All believers were equal under the eyes of God • The world and everything in it is an expression of God’s power

41. 8. Identify the Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church. • Roman Empire was divided (eastern half Byzantine Empire) 1054 • Byzantine emperor refused to recognize the pope as head of Christian Church • Christian church split into two parts: • Roman Catholic Church: Rome • Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church: Constantinople

42. Christianity My Life, My Religion: Christianity Video 29:00 5:10 Easter 8:36 Communion 15:27 Prayer 18:08 Bible 24:30 Christmas Crash Course: Christianity from Judaism to Constantine: Crash Course World History #11

43. Comparison of Statistics and Basics

44. Comparison of Origins and History

45. Comparison of Religious Beliefs

46. All religions: A way to rejoice and give thanks moral code Give to needy Golden rule: “do unto others” Supreme power C and J: Monotheism Old Testament Prophets Ten Commandments Idea Heaven Belief in the idea of a Messiah Jerusalem Holy Coming of Age ceremonies Several Denominations/movements Sacred text Sabbath (Sat/Sun) Similarities of Judaism & Christianity